June was a busy month!
WA Roadmap to 2028
On 2 June, the Strategic Steering Group and I launched the WA Roadmap to 2028, the WA sheep industry strategy - designed by the sector for the sector. The launch was a hybrid event, with attendees joining in person and online from across Australia and overseas.
Supported by work from AgKnowledge and Rennie Economics, the Roadmap was designed through extensive sector consultation over the last 6 months and provides a strategic portfolio of opportunities to help capture value across the supply chain.
Wayne Crofts, CEO of the Craig Mostyn Group/V&V Walsh provided some key market insight as did Peter Morris from PJ Morris Wools.
A panel discussion with key industry representatives explored the Roadmap’s vision and goals:
Vision: A confident, adaptable WA sheep industry - supporting people across a profitable supply chain to meet changing markets, strengthened by innovation, science, and technology.
Goals:
- The whole supply chain operating efficiently to optimise market value and profitability.
- Informed, confident decision-making across the industry.
- A vibrant, positive and collaborative industry culture.
The WA Roadmap to 2028 helps to point to ‘what good could look like’ for Western Australia’s sheep meat and wool industries to help guide decision-making and investment, including the $5m roadmap implementation fund which is currently being considered by government.
WA Wool Collective
I recently was fortunate enough to visit some large processing and manufacturing plants based in China with a group called the WA Wool Collective, organised by Peter Morris from PJ Morris Wools.
The group included many growers, brokers, exporters and wool professionals to provide a direct understanding of in-market demand for Merino wool.
The level of investment in processing and blending technology in China is large and Australia is uniquely placed to supply the excellent quality Merino wool they need. A growing market for next to skin active wear and changes in technology allowing for blending with cotton and other fibres suggests that demand will remain strong for some time.
This combined with continued strong prices for meat provided a lot of optimism that sheep livestock systems will provide good return in mixed farming models into the future.
It was a fantastic trip and provided a lot of confidence for all those involved in the wool sector to invest and grow their numbers – my thanks to Peter Morris for the invite!
WASIA AGM: The Outlook for Wool and Beyond the Shed
I attended the WASIA AGM on June 20. Just following the China tour there were some great discussions and presentations from across the wool sector on flock rebuilding and opportunities to line up for sustained demand for the quality Merino wool that WA produces.
The Beyond Shed program was showcased and the WASIA team are doing a great job at rolling out a complex initiative to help provide extra skills and training to shearing teams.
To learn more visit Beyond The Shed | WA Shearing Industry Association
Round 2 grant programs - Closing soon!
Farm Business Transition Program
Applications for Round 2 close 15 July 2026.
Eligible sheep producers can apply for grants of up to $75,000 (GST exclusive) to support on‑farm adoption of alternative practices.
Applicants must provide a 1:1 cash co‑contribution and have participated in the trade since 1 July 2020. Approved activities can commence once a grant agreement is in place and after the Activity Start Date.
For more information and to apply visit GrantConnect.
Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program
Applications for Round 2 close 13 July 2026.
Grants of up to $40,000 (GST exclusive) are available to support livestock transport operators transitioning to other transport‑related activities.
A 1:1 cash co‑contribution is required, and approved activities can commence once a grant agreement is in place and after the Activity Start Date.
For more information and to apply visit GrantConnect.
LambEx2026
Next month I’ll be attending LambEx26, in Adelaide from 7–10 July. This year’s theme, Telling Our Stories, has a program built around the people, ideas and decisions shaping sheep businesses on the ground.
The Future Flock, the first industry-wide, national sheepmeat and wool strategy, is nearing completion and will be launched at LambEx2026.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions either directly to me or via transition.advocate@aff.gov.au
